ABSTRACT
This study compared the social and feeding behaviour of immunocastrated female pigs using different immunocastration protocols. We used seventy-two gilts from industrial crossbreeding (Agroceres × Topigs) at 15 weeks of age. The pigs were distributed in a randomised design with three treatments. The second dose of the immunocastration vaccine was applied in two groups, six weeks before slaughter (I6) and four weeks before slaughter (I4). A non-immunised group (NI) was used for comparison. Due to the divergence in the time of immunisation between the two groups, an individual comparison of each immunocastrated group with the control group (NI vs. I6 and NI vs. I4) was performed. Social behaviour was analysed through the collection of images by a monitoring camera, and the analysis period was from 6:00 to 18:00 h, with behaviour observed every ten minutes. Feeding behaviour data were collected by the automated FIRE® system. Anti-GnRH immunisation and the different protocols of application did not influence most social and feeding behaviours.
feeding; gilts; immunocastration; pre-slaughter; welfare
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Before: two weeks before second immunocastration dose, females with 105 and 119 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.After: two weeks after second immunocastration dose, females with 133 and 147 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.* Difference by Student’s t test between the treatments.
Before: two weeks before second immunocastration dose, females with 105 and 119 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.After: two weeks after second immunocastration dose, females with 133 and 147 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.* Difference by Student’s t test between treatments.
Before: two weeks before second immunocastration dose, females with 105 and 119 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.After: two weeks after second immunocastration dose, females with 133 and 147 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.* Difference by Student’s t test between treatments.
Before: two weeks before second immunocastration dose, females with 105 and 119 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.After: two weeks after second immunocastration dose, females with 133 and 147 days of age for I6 and I4, respectively.* Difference by Student’s t test between treatments.